I use the Dynamite 17g. I think it is softer and plays better than the 16g. I've tried both side by side and that was what it felt like to me. I've got a set of their "soft" version but haven't tried it yet.

I use the Dynamite 17g. I think it is softer and plays better than the 16g. I've tried both side by side and that was what it felt like to me. I've got a set of their "soft" version but haven't tried it yet.

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I looked real quick yesterday on TW and I'll I saw was the "tough" version.

Dynamite Soft 17 (green) and Dynamite Soft 18 (blue) are the other dynamites.

Have not used "Tough" but the original Dynamite was stiffer, not as durable and lost tension quicker than Soft 17 (my personal choice of the Dynamites)

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I've got the "soft" 17 set to try. I agree with you about the 16g of the "tough" version. That's why I tried, and liked, the 17g of the "tough" version a lot better. I look forward to try the "soft" 17g green version now.

I've got the "soft" 17 set to try. I agree with you about the 16g of the "tough" version. That's why I tried, and liked, the 17g of the "tough" version a lot better. I look forward to try the "soft" 17g green version now.

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I've got one set of the original Dynamite 17ga that I'll be glad to send you if you will provide a snail mail address..... I'm not going to be using it any time soon and hate to see it go to waste.

Interesting comments about this string, not least because they say it feels poly like even though Zyex is supposed to be soft.

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That's not what the article says. The articles says it looks and feels like a poly when you get it out of the package. But, you will notice that the stiffness is significantly below Prince Synthetic Gut which is a nylon string that is below the normal poly stiffness range. You'll also notice that several of the playtesters praised the string for improved comfort, even if they didn't follow Ashaway's guidelines concerning reducing tension. The article also noted that it does not act like a poly during stringing.

Zyex is a string material that plays softer at lower tensions and stiffens at higher tensions. It is more gut-like than other synthetics at lower tensions. In order to get maximum comfort out of it, you need to drop the tension down 10-20% from what you normally use like Ashaway suggests. If you want a synthetic string that doesn't stiffen as much at higher tension you may want to try a polyolefin ribbon type string, like Isospeed Control Classic. Natural gut also, based on TW's data, resists stiffening as tension increases much better than synthetics — making it the best choice for players prone to pain from ball impact shock who want higher tensions.

As for Zyex Monogut being stiffer than Dynamite, that's hardly surprising since it's a monofilament string. Monofilament strings are always stiffer because they are a single filament. Old Dynamite has something like 6 Zyex filaments that are wrapped. New Dynamite has a large number of fine filaments, as far as I know. Testing data finds that old Dynamite isn't stiffer than new Dynamite, with the exception of the 18 gauge Soft which is thinner and less stiff. Interestingly, the 16 gauge of the old Dynamite tested slightly less stiff than the 17, at least at some tensions. I have found the 16 more durable and resistant to movement. I prefer it, although the 17 is a nice string for a racquet with a dense pattern.

centered,
i really don't quite get it - you were so much on the scientific hard facts side and now i see you resort to "anectodat" evidence by some string-testers.
are you sure you are o.k?

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Another thing to point out about RSI reviews is that the string is ALWAYS reviewed better than average. I've never seen one where the reviews look like some of the TW playtest reviews (the last 2 I've tried were dogs).

centered,
i really don't quite get it - you were so much on the scientific hard facts side and now i see you resort to "anectodat" evidence by some string-testers.
are you sure you are o.k?

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People here love anecdote and as soon as I provide it after being goaded numerous times suddenly the subject changes, again, to me rather than the substance of the anecdotes...

how surprising.

The bottom line, my anecdotal evidence, is that Dynamite WB 16 is the best synthetic I've used and the 17 is a close second. Durability has been excellent for both, particularly for the 16. Stringers need to take their time to avoid burning the crosses. A pupil of mine is very pleased with Dynamite 17 Soft, but I am going to have her switch to 16 because she tends to overhit and her racquet has a wide pattern. Hopefully the new "Dynamite 16 Tough" will be similar to the WB 16.

Dynamite isn't a perfect string because the coating wears, particularly in the crosses. No string is perfect. I think my stringer rushed the job, frankly. If the coating is really the problem, it seems like the mains should wear first. But, given the many months I've gotten out of both jobs (both were cut out simply because the coating was gone where the sweet spot is), I have no real durability complaint. Wilson Sensation 17 snapped in three hours and played poorly, too. NRG-2 has been less durable for my friend than Dynamite.

Some like to talk a lot of trash about strings they haven't tried, placing anecdotal evidence above the scientific test results. Then, when someone who has actually used the string says something good about it, they still don't bother to either provide new scientific evidence or their own personal anecdotal testing. I haven't changed my position. I agree with the Tennis Warehouse article that says stiffness is the most important factor in a string's performance. However, there are additional, less important, factors that personal testing can flesh out.

I have to wonder how well this Zyex Monogut will play given that it lacks the braided outer layer. I have found that the outer layer greatly improves control for regular Dynamite. However, since it is a monofilament, it won't flatten out like regular Dynamite does when the outer layer is gone from a large portion of the string, so it's probably not an issue -- particularly for those who are comfortable with strings that have a smooth surface as many do. This Monogut is probably a good alternative to poly. Its stiffness definitely is much lower, according to the measurements, which is a good thing for the body.

The person who said they tried an "old" monogut should know that that string was not made from Zyex so it's not the same at all.

People here love anecdote and as soon as I provide it after being goaded numerous times suddenly the subject changes, again, to me rather than the substance of the anecdotes...

how surprising.

The bottom line, my anecdotal evidence, is that Dynamite WB 16 is the best synthetic I've used and the 17 is a close second. Durability has been excellent for both, particularly for the 16. Stringers need to take their time to avoid burning the crosses. A pupil of mine is very pleased with Dynamite 17 Soft, but I am going to have her switch to 16 because she tends to overhit and her racquet has a wide pattern. Hopefully the new "Dynamite 16 Tough" will be similar to the WB 16.

Dynamite isn't a perfect string because the coating wears, particularly in the crosses. No string is perfect. I think my stringer rushed the job, frankly. If the coating is really the problem, it seems like the mains should wear first. But, given the many months I've gotten out of both jobs (both were cut out simply because the coating was gone where the sweet spot is), I have no real durability complaint. Wilson Sensation 17 snapped in three hours and played poorly, too. NRG-2 has been less durable for my friend than Dynamite.

Some like to talk a lot of trash about strings they haven't tried, placing anecdotal evidence above the scientific test results. Then, when someone who has actually used the string says something good about it, they still don't bother to either provide new scientific evidence or their own personal anecdotal testing. I haven't changed my position. I agree with the Tennis Warehouse article that says stiffness is the most important factor in a string's performance. However, there are additional, less important, factors that personal testing can flesh out.

I have to wonder how well this Zyex Monogut will play given that it lacks the braided outer layer. I have found that the outer layer greatly improves control for regular Dynamite. However, since it is a monofilament, it won't flatten out like regular Dynamite does when the outer layer is gone from a large portion of the string, so it's probably not an issue -- particularly for those who are comfortable with strings that have a smooth surface as many do. This Monogut is probably a good alternative to poly. Its stiffness definitely is much lower, according to the measurements, which is a good thing for the body.

The person who said they tried an "old" monogut should know that that string was not made from Zyex so it's not the same at all.

I've tried plenty of "gut like" synthetic strings. One that feels like gut does not exist yet that I can tell.

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Gamma Professional is far and away the closest multi to natural gut (that I've tried), IMO. And I've used a ton multis (but maybe not as many as you).

In a lot of ways actually, I like Professional BETTER than natural gut (blasphemy I know!) but it's true (for me anyway). And yes, I've used Babolat VS, and Pacific, and Klip Legend.

But it doesn't last long enough for me, which is a bummer.

Zyex is interesting stuff. If the either the price were lower or the durability were better, I might consider using it over Gamma Pro. I liked the version I tried once from Klipper USA, but thought it was too expensive for what it was.

The bottom line, my anecdotal evidence, is that Dynamite WB 16 is the best synthetic I've used and the 17 is a close second. Durability has been excellent for both, particularly for the 16. Stringers need to take their time to avoid burning the crosses. A pupil of mine is very pleased with Dynamite 17 Soft, but I am going to have her switch to 16 because she tends to overhit and her racquet has a wide pattern. Hopefully the new "Dynamite 16 Tough" will be similar to the WB 16.

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I've never seen Dynamite WB either 16 or 17 for sale anywhere. TW doesn't appear to have it. Where can you buy it?

Just tried the Ashaway Zyex. Hard to believe, but I was impressed. It has the texture of a poly, so it's a little surprise when you string it because it stretches like a synthetic. It has a little less coil memory than most polys too, so it's pretty easy to string. Also, it is comfortable as advertised. Feel is good, power is good too. I strung it up at 53# (15% lower than I string natural gut or synthetic at 62). They state on the package to string it 10-15% lower than normal. Worked well for me.

Just tried the Ashaway Zyex. Hard to believe, but I was impressed. It has the texture of a poly, so it's a little surprise when you string it because it stretches like a synthetic. It has a little less coil memory than most polys too, so it's pretty easy to string. Also, it is comfortable as advertised. Feel is good, power is good too. I strung it up at 53# (15% lower than I string natural gut or synthetic at 62). They state on the package to string it 10-15% lower than normal. Worked well for me.

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How was the spin and feel? I'm looking for my next string. Looking for more feel then poly.

My full bed of Mono has been a pleasant experience. String movement was low and it hit my 3 week limit and maintained its playability on clay during this period.
While I will carry both Tough when my stock of Dynamite runs out & Mono, but I'll pass on both of the Soft models which just didn't work for me.

My full bed of Mono has been a pleasant experience. String movement was low and it hit my 3 week limit and maintained its playability on clay during this period.
While I will carry both Tough when my stock of Dynamite runs out & Mono, but I'll pass on both of the Soft models which just didn't work for me.

My full bed of Mono has been a pleasant experience. String movement was low and it hit my 3 week limit and maintained its playability on clay during this period.
While I will carry both Tough when my stock of Dynamite runs out & Mono, but I'll pass on both of the Soft models which just didn't work for me.

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What about the softs did you not like ? I did not care for the Soft 17 in a full bed, but found it to be a great string when hybrided with Forten Dynamix.

Another thing to point out about RSI reviews is that the string is ALWAYS reviewed better than average. I've never seen one where the reviews look like some of the TW playtest reviews (the last 2 I've tried were dogs).

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That could be, but the RSI playtests are the only ones that are blind - the testers don't know what string they are testing. Because of this they are the only reports I have time for.

RSI give it a stiffness rating of 151 which is VERY low so it should be pretty comfortable.

I think I'm going to get a set to try out. I'm intrigued by this new material.

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TWU tested it even lower, around 120, which is softer than any non-natty gut strings aside from Aashaway Dynamite. Friction testing also showed it is a very slippery string. Strange though that it got only average marks from RSI playtesters in string movement and spin. I am still very interested in this string, especially as a cross for gut or shaped copoly mains, but haven't had time to do any string experimenting since it came out.

Btw, the string has been renamed/branded since I started this thread. It was originally described as 100% zyex but they now call it a zyex polymer monofilament. I think they thought "100% zyex" was a necessary descriptor to differntiate it from their dynamit line, which are zyex multifilaments with a nylon outer braid. The crucial difference is that the Zyex Monogut lacks the nylon braid. But it it appears that it it is not 100% zyex but a polymer composed of zyex and some other stuff. But testing shows that it is much, much softer than any copoly monofilament on the market, but sharesbthe lo-friction characteristic with copoly, which is what they should be marketing.

I strung one up today using MG ZX. At first I thought it was a poly, it had a lot of coil memory and was very stiff, but when I tensioned it, it stretched so much I thought it was slipping in the clamps. My cleint was give a set to play test and give a review. I'll know in a couple of days how it plays. BTW I strung it at 60 lbs on a Yonex Vcore iX 100, full bed.

A week later, my client came back and told me it was like a board at first but once it settled down it was very playable. Performance wise, he said it very close to gut. No notching after about 15 hours of play. I'm stringing the 16 gauge version on the same model racket, at 58 lbs. I'm not too crazy about the tan color, they should make it white or some other color that does not look like poo.

A week later, my client came back and told me it was like a board at first but once it settled down it was very playable. Performance wise, he said it very close to gut. No notching after about 15 hours of play. I'm stringing the 16 gauge version on the same model racket, at 58 lbs. I'm not too crazy about the tan color, they should make it white or some other color that does not look like poo.

Natural gut is pretty stable once the tension settles. I would expect the same if this truly a Nat gut substitute. I'll know more as the weeks progress. FWIW, my client is a semi-pro futures player. He's still trying to tune in the tension.

I'm not too crazy about the tan color, they should make it white or some other color that does not look like poo.

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I believe that color is the natural color of zyex. Every zyex string I've tried has a similar tanish-greenish color to it. I wouldn't be surprised if the red behaves a little different than the natural.

One of the reviews on TW of this string said something along the lines of this string is so much stiffer than gut, it is a crime to have gut in the string name. I might string up Ashaway Dynamite Tough 16 tonight. While I hate cutting out a string job with only 2 sets on it, my curiosity about Zyex is getting the best of me.

I tried MG ZX some time ago and did not like it. It felt almost metallic to me. Strange vibrations. Had strung on two different frames and had the same sensation. It did not notch which was nice, but it did not matter to me.

Whoever said it played like gut must play with some form of skunk gut. Not even close.

One of the reviews on TW of this string said something along the lines of this string is so much stiffer than gut, it is a crime to have gut in the string name. I might string up Ashaway Dynamite Tough 16 tonight. While I hate cutting out a string job with only 2 sets on it, my curiosity about Zyex is getting the best of me.

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Yeah, people say all sorts of things about strings. Keep in mind that Dynamite is a completely different animal than ZX. Dynamite has a braided nylon jacket that inhibits string movement. If you like your strings "locked" together you may like it. ZX is slippery.

Those numbers are somewhat deceiving. The ZX lost much more tension during the tension-loss part of the testing protocol than gut did. So when the stiffness testing was done the ZX was at a much lower tension than the guts were. Even still, if you correct for tension loss ZX is only about 30% stiffer than natural gut. Synguts are around twice as stiff as gut. Some of the polys are three times stiffer.

Those numbers are somewhat deceiving. The ZX lost much more tension during the tension-loss part of the testing protocol than gut did. So when the stiffness testing was done the ZX was at a much lower tension than the guts were.

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This is a good point Corners. I'm above my pay-grade here, but what about comparing the medium tension /fast swing tension loss of Revenge (19.2 lbs) to ZXM (24 lbs). Polys lose a ton of tension, but remain stiff in the lab. I'm not sure what the implications of this are. What struck me when stringing it was the elongation. For me this thing stretched as much as Gamma Professional - way more than most polys I've strung (save perhaps TBHB7). I'm intrigued by MZX.